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What’s the Deal With; The Genesis of the “Wheel-Horse” Emblems?
The purpose and scope of this article is to address the genesis of the now familiar “wheel-horse” and “wheel arrow” emblems. These emblems, or “shoulder patches,” are now seen throughout the country, and perhaps beyond, on the uniforms and vehicles worn and used by police, and in New York City, civilian traffic officers.
Great pride is taken by the traffic, “mounted” (horse) and “wheel” (motorcycle and bicycle) officers in their assignments and the emblems that signify their selection for these special assignments. But where did these emblems first appear on the uniforms of police officers?
Research records found (to date) indicate that it was the Police Department of the City of New York (PDNY) that first introduced the “wheel-horse” emblem which was later the inspiration for the “wheel arrow” emblem.
“The Street Traffic Regulation Squad”
Prior to 1900, there were practically no codified rules or laws regulating the movement of traffic. In the first decade of the new millennium, automobile traffic increased exponentially. New methods to control the direction, flow, and speed of traffic were required. Officers dealt with a wide and dizzying array of moving objects including: pedestrians, bicyclists, persons on horseback, horse-drawn wagons and carriages, steam and “gasolene-powered” automobiles, motorcycles, trolley cars, omnibuses, etc.
In April 1904, Police Commissioner William McAdoo promulgated an order that amended the Rules and Regulations of the department. The order effected the Roundsmen (equivalent of today’s rank of Sergeant) and Patrolmen assigned to the “Traffic Regulation Squad.”
The order directed the officers to wear on their left sleeves, half-way between their shoulder and elbow, an embroidered cloth emblem consisting of a yellow-colored wheel with a brown-colored horse head.
Officers were required to purchase the emblems at a cost of sixty-five cents per emblem. The city contracted with a well-known local company to manufacture the emblems, white caps, and much of the other uniform items worn by its police officers. The Traffic Regulation Squad’s Mounted officers wore white caps, as opposed to helmets, and the new emblems on the occasion of the Annual Police Parade held on May 6, 1905.
To differentiate these emblems (“patches” in today’s vernacular) from others of similar design, collectors refer to this design as “wheel-horse.”
“The Traffic Squad”
By 1905, the term “Traffic Squad” appeared more frequently in the available records of the department. The work of the Traffic Squad was immediately recognized by drivers, businesses, the department and citizens alike. The resulting squad consisted of officers on foot, bicycle, horseback and motorcycle.
May 6, 1905, the day that the Annual Police Parade was held, the cornerstone for the new headquarters was laid at the corner of Centre and Broome Streets. Immediately after the ceremony, the Merchants Association of New York presented the “Traffic Squad” with a set of flags in appreciation for their efforts and results. The set of flags was beautifully designed. One contained, in part, the “horse wheel” (wheel-horse) design (below).
In 1906 the New York City “Traffic Squad Benevolent Association, Inc.” (TSBA), a fraternal organization, was formed and officially organized on December 11, 1908. The emblem of the TSBA incorporates the “wheel-horse” design and the motto of the PDNY/NYPD’s Traffic Squad “ex chaos ordo” or “from chaos, order.”
The Arrow-Wheel Emblem Design
Apparently advancing the design of the wheel-horse for motorized vehicles such as motorcycles, the arrow-wheel emblem was adopted by NYPD Motorcycle Squad officers around 1923-4.
What’s the Deal With; The Genesis of the “Wheel-Horsel” Emblems?
It appears that the NYPD was the first to adopt the “wheel-horse” design sleeve emblem (shoulder patch) in April 1904, and that the “wheel-arrow” design emblem used widely by traffic, mounted and motorcycle “wheel” units followed suit using the former as the basis for its design.
Postscript: If anyone has any information to add to, correct, or update this article, please contact the author at the email address below.
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